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DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS
A KNOWLEDGE-BASED APPROACH |
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Intended Audience
While the book is designed especially for students in management and business schools, we expect that many practicing decision makers will also find its fresh perspective of interest. It is assumed that the reader has some basic familiarity with computers (e.g., the distinction between secondary and primary memory, the role of an operating system). This can be attained through prior coursework or experience. Alternatively, selected workbook supplements used with the book may begin with an examination of salient computer basics.
The text is appropriate for an advanced undergraduate course in decision support systems. We envision it as the backbone for such a course, furnishing a unified view of DSS concepts and possibilities. Most likely, the course instructor will also want to give students hands-on experiences in developing or using DSSs. Recognizing the diversity of instructor needs and tastes in providing such experiences, we have deliberately avoided tying the book to any particular software packages. As such, it can readily be used in tandem with any of the many presently available workbooks that offer tutorials on the use of various popular software tools for managing knowledge. Examples includes the West Understanding and Using series of software tutorials. Thus, it is straightforward for an instructor to give students a first-hand understanding of selected knowledge management techniques to be used in developing their own prototype DSSs during the course.
The book is also appropriate for graduate courses on decision support systems. At the master's level, workbook supplements may also be used to complement the text. We have found it valuable to form master's students into teams, where each team is responsible for identifying a DSS need (based on team members' experiences), developing a DSS to meet that need (using tools covered in prior courses or supplemental workbooks), and demonstrating the DSS to the rest of the class. At the doctoral level, we have used the text as a basis for discussion of research directions and for organizing readings assignments from journals. At this level, individual projects of DSS development have been used successfully, plus the assignment of writing and presenting tutorial/critique papers on DSS-related topics.
